222 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Proximate Analysis of the Corn Cob. 

 One hundred grains of the finely ground corn cob yielded to 

 ether, hot alcohol and boiled water — 3,145 grains. These ingre- 

 dients were : 



Grains. 



A siccative yellow fixed oil, . 323 



Grape sugar, or glucose, . 242 



Dextrine (gum) with some Albumen and extractive bitter 



matter, 0.557 



Loss, . 023 



Nutritive matter per cent, 3.145 



Chemical Analysis of the Cob for Mineral matters and Salts. 

 One thousand grains of the cobs dry at 212*^ F, burned in a plati- 

 num bowl at a red heat left 9 . 5 grains of ashes, which by analy- 

 sis was sepai-ated into — 



Potassa, 3 .204 



Soda, 0.492 



Phosphate of Lime, 1 . 000 



Phosphate of Magnesia, . 260 



Phosphoric acid from the Alkalies, . 300 



Silica, .800 



Chlorine, . 196 



Per Oxide of iron, 0.360 



Unburned charcoal, 1 . 500 



Carbonic acid and loss, 1 . 388 



9 . 500 



From these analyses it appears that corn cobs contain 3^-0-^-5- 

 per cent of nutritive matter, but there can be no doubt of the fact 

 that the mechanical stimulus of ground corn cobs is also benefi- 

 cial to animals, especially to ruminants, and probably also to 

 horses which are known to be benefited by chopped straw and 

 mere fibre of poor grasses. 



The analysis of the cobs for mineral matters shows that their 

 principal useful constituent as a fertilizer to soil is potash, which 

 is very abundantly contained in them. This is valuable as a sol- 

 vent of humus, and acts whetlier eliminated by combustion or se- 

 parated by decay of the carbonaceous matters. 



Charred corn cob will also make an excellent absorbent of ammo- 

 niacal gases derived from animal matters or from the atmosphere. 

 Most respectfully, your obedient servant, 

 CHARLES T. JACKSON, M.D., Assayer to State of Mass. ^ §-c. 



